to keep company; to listen to; to associate with; to play against (e.g. a team); to take on (e.g. a rival)
middle class; bourgeoisie
cultivation; refinement; culture; education
to trick; to cheat; to deceive; to coax; to wheedle; to soothe and humor (humour)
to make an appeal; to urge
reason; logic; method; system; order
persuasiveness; powers of persuasion; cogency
regarding highly; attaching importance to
to read (a book); to open (a book) to read; to unravel (e.g. a mystery); to discover (the truth)
to become clear; to be made public
not quite (right); not very good; somewhat (lacking)
to be open (to traffic); to lead to; to flow (liquid, current); to pass; to be understood; to be comprehended; to be honored
to swell; to rise; to bulge; to rouse; to get excited
activity (esp. energetic); great efforts; conspicuous service; to flourish; to participate actively; to play an active role
to get information out of a person; to begin listening
Warring States period (of Japanese history, approx. 1467-1568 CE); Sengoku period; Warring States period (of Chinese history, 403-221 BCE); era of vicious competition
identifying a severed head; checking a person's identity
foil; (gold, etc.) leaf; prestige
connection; link; relationship
bad reputation; infamy; ill repute; unfavorable criticism; unfavourable criticism
to hinder; to obstruct; to disrupt; to interfere with; to cause a delay
duty; function; office; mission; task
enjoyment; pleasure; diversion; amusement; hobby
pillage; plunder; looting; robbery
to spout out; to spurt out; to sprout; to bud; to burst into laughter; to blow (smoke, etc.)
advance payment; advance delivery
to be contrary to; to be inconsistent with; to act contrary to (rules or guidelines); to violate; to oppose; to rebel
simply put; putting it simply; in short
brand (burnt-in mark of identification); branding iron